UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BULLETIN No. 859 
Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry 
WM. A. TAYLOR, Chie. 
Washington, D. C. V September 7, 1920 
THE PROCESS OF RIPENING IN THE 
TOMATO, CONSIDERED ESPECIALLY 
FROM THE COMMERCIAL 
STANDPOINT 
By 
CHARLES E. SANDO 
Formerly Junior Chemist, Horticultural 
and Pomological Investigations 
CONTENTS 
Page 
Shipments of Early Tomatoes to Northern Markets 1 
Growing and Handling Tomatoes in the Field 3 
Packing and Shipping Operations 4 
Previous Chemical Investigations of the Tomato 7 
Experimental Material . . . 13 
Methods of Analysis 15 
Analytical Data concerning Progressive Changes in Composition during Ripening 17 
Comparison of the Composition of Commercially Picked Tomatoes with Turning 
and Vine-Ripened Fruit 21 
Effect of Lack of Ventilation on Ripening . . . 24 
Summary and Conclusions .30 
Literature Cited 32 
Appendix.— Comparison of the Composition of "Puffy" and Normal Living- 
ston Globe Tomatoes 37 
WASHINGTON 
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
1920 
